High Holidays

Our High Holiday services are rooted in Jewish tradition and shaped by the warmth of our CBS community. You will hear familiar and new melodies, meaningful readings, Torah, reflection, and the sound of the shofar calling us into a new year.

Services are led by our rabbi and members of our congregation, reflecting one of the values at the heart of CBS: Jewish life is something we create together.

three teenagers singing

Rosh Hashanah

Our Rosh Hashanah observances typically include:

Erev Rosh Hashanah Evening Service
A reflective service to welcome the New Year.

Rosh Hashanah Morning Service
A morning of prayer, Torah, music, shofar, and community.

Family-Friendly Service
At CBS, we want families to feel comfortable participating in ways that work for them. A family-friendly service is offered for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Families with young children are welcome in our regular services as well. We know that they don’t always sit still and sometimes need breaks. That is part of what it means to be a community of all generations.

Come to the service that works best for your family.

Tashlich
A symbolic ritual of casting away what we are ready to leave behind as we begin again.

Yom Kippur

Our Yom Kippur observances typically include:

Kol Nidre
The powerful evening service that begins Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur Morning Service
A service of prayer, reflection, Torah, and communal introspection.

Afternoon Services
We gather for final prayers and the sounding of the shofar

Yizkor Memorial Service
A sacred time to remember loved ones who have died and to honor them.

Break-the-Fast
Individual members often host a meal to end the fast together in warmth and fellowship.

a young girl blowing the ram's horn

What to Expect

You do not need to know Hebrew. You do not need to know when to stand or sit. Come as you are.

Our services include a mixture of Hebrew and English. We use prayer, music, readings, teaching, and reflection to make the High Holidays accessible and meaningful. Some people come dressed formally; others come more simply. If this is your first High Holiday experience, we are honored to welcome you. If it is your fiftieth, we are grateful you are here.

a woman and two children smiling

Registration and Guests

Although not required, you may use the registration link below to let us know which services you plan to attend and who will be joining you. Tickets are not required!

Members, guests, extended family, prospective members, college students, and those exploring Jewish life are all welcome.

Register

Livestream

For those who are unable to attend in person, select High Holiday services are available by livestream.

Watch the Livestream

Accessibility and Inclusion

We want the High Holidays at CBS to be welcoming and accessible.

Please contact us if you need assistance or have concerns about access.

Contact Us

CBS welcomes people of all including differing abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and levels of Jewish knowledge/involvement.

three older women smiling
jewish family sitting around the table

Remembering Loved Ones

During Yom Kippur, we gather for Yizkor, a memorial service that gives us space to remember loved ones and reflect on the ways their lives continue to shape ours.

Information about submitting names for remembrance in our memorial book will be shared here:

Submit Memorial Information

Join us for the High Holidays, and begin the year in community.

Friday, September 4

Selichot: Communal Prayers for Divine Forgiveness
7:15 – 8:00 PM
Location: Congregation Beth Shalom
This service follows our traditional Friday night service, which begins at 6:30 PM

Friday, September 11

Erev Rosh Hashanah
7:30 PM
Location: University High School

Saturday, September 12

Young Family Service
9:00 AM
Location: University High School

Rosh Hashanah
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: University High School

Tashlich
4:30 PM
Location: Cool Creek Park

Sunday, September 13

Memorial Service
10:00 AM
Location: CBS Cemetery
1000 N. Rangeline Road Carmel, Indiana

Sunday, October 20

Erev Yom Kippur
7:30 PM
Location: University High School

Monday, October 21

Location: University High School (All Events)

Young Family Service
9:00 AM

Morning Yom Kippur
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Afternoon Discussion
3:00 PM

Afternoon Service
4:00 PM
Followed by Yizkor and Ne’ilah
(Approximately 5:00 PM)